Arch support



April 18, 1939. J. F. SCHIPPER ARCH SUPPORT Filed July '13, 1936 Ja/m 1. 62%

Z fi e7; \NVENTOR mjfmya ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 18, 1939 PATENT OFFICE ARCH SUPPORT John Francis Schipper, Miami, Fla.

1 Application July 13,

' 1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in arch supports for correcting abnormal conditions of the tarsal or transverse arch of the human foot.

As is well known, the bone structure forming the tarsal or transverse arch includes two main key, or pier, bones, to wit, the cuboid at the out side of the foot and the internal cuneiform, and by which the other bones of said arch are held in proper relation. Displacement of either or both of these key, or pier bones, causes the entire arch structure to sag the result being what is commonly known as fallen arches or flat feet. This condition causes the entire bone assembly of the foot and leg, from the toes to the spine, to be rotated out of normal alignment. The adverse and inju rious effects upon the health and general well being of a person afiicted with this condition are well known and need not be specified.

Supports for the transverse arch of the foot, as 20 commonly constructed, are all open to the objection that they hold the foot throughout substantially its entire length rigid, thereby inhibiting free movement of the bone structure, interfering with muscular movement and restricting proper 25 circulation of blood in the foot. Moreover they fail to adequately support the outer edge of the foot and the cuboid bone at said edge.

With the foregoing in mind, the primary object of my invention is to provide an efficient arch support for sustaining the bone structure of the tarsal or transverse parts in correct position and cushioning the same, and which will permit normal free action of the muscles of the foot and unrestricted circulation of the blood.

35 Another object is to provide a device of the character designated, designed to yieldingly force the cuboid and internal cuneiform of the arch inwardly and upwardly toward their normal conditions.

40 Another object is to provide an arch support for the above designated purposes which may be easily and accurately positioned in the shoe and which is designed for cooperation with the breast of the heel to prevent displacement of the arch and to hold the foot in correct position in the shoe.

Other objects are to provide a device of this character which can be warn with comfort, is light and durable and economical to manufacture.

In the drawing a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated and will be described in detail and defined in the claim appended hereto.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation, partly in full and partly in dotted lines, illustrating the relation 1936, Serial No. 90,419 (01. 3641) of my improved arch support to the bone structure of the tarsal arch.

Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section.

Fig. 3 is a view in bottom plan illustrating the position of the arch support in the shoe. 5

Fig. 4 is a view in top plan of the arch support.

Fig. 5 is a view in edge elevation of said support and Fig. 6 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

With reference to the drawing, particularly Figure 2 thereof, which illustrates the general bone structure and assembly of the tarsal or transverse arch of the human foot which consists of the cuboid bone I, the external cuneiform 2, the 15 middle cuneiform ii, the internal cuneiform 4, and the scaphoid 5.

The arch support of my invention comprises a strip-like piece 6 of resilient, flexible material, preferably sponge rubber, which in edge contour comprises substantially semi-circular end portions 1 and 8, respectively, one larger than the other, a convex slightly curved side edge 9 and a concave side edge In of greater curvature than said edge 9. Under normal condition the strip 6 has a flat bottom or lower face ll and an upper surface curved longitudinally and transversely to provide substantially dome-shaped upper faces l2 and i3 on the end portions 'i and 8 and a portion [4 intermediate said portions i and 3 and which is concave longitudinally of the strip and convex transversely thereof. It will be understood, of course, that the strip will be made in different lengths and widths to fit feet of difierent sizes and different types of arches. In each size however the over all length of the strip 6 should be slightly greater than the width of the arch as shown in Figure 2.

In using my improved arch support the strip 6 is positioned in the shoe to extend across the same so that the larger end portion 8 will engage the instep part of the foot and the smaller end portion I the outer side of the foot and so that the concave side edge in will lie immediately in front of the breast of the heel. In this position the dome-shaped faces l2 and H2 are compressed by the foot against the sides of the shoe and react under such compression to exert yielding corrective forces inwardly and upwardly against the before mentioned key, or pier bones, and 2. Also in this position of the strip I the concave side edge l0 engages the breast of theheel whereby said strip is prevented from working rearwardly under the foot while at the same time the foot is prevented from slipping forwardly in the shoe the face H gripping the shoe as will be understood. By virtue of the curvature of the intermediate portion I 4 and that of the side edge I 0 the support functions also as a heel cup giving further support to the foot as will be clear.

It is to be particularly noted that the arch support of my invention, in efiect, directs forces in the direction described directly against the cuboid member of the arch. Since an abnormal position of the cuboid is particularly hard to correct the advantage of this feature will be readily appreciated.

The arch support of my invention has, in actual practice, been found to be thoroughly efficient for the purposes for which it was designed It is easily and quickly located in correct position in the shoe and can be manufactured for sale within the reach of individuals to whom present day prices of such orthopedic devices are prohibitive.

Although I have described my invention as embodying certain precise details of construction right is herein reserved to deviation from such details falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

An arch support comprising a single strip-like piece of sponge rubber having a normally flat lower face and being formed with end portions substantially semi-circular in edge contour, one end portion being larger than the other, said strip having concave and convex side edges connecting said semi-circular edges, said end portions having dome-shaped upper faces with the height of the large end portion being greater than that of the other end portion, and said strip on its upper face being concave longitudinally and convex transversely intermediate said dome-shaped faces.

JOHN FRANCIS SCHIPPER. 

